Structure of water-jet toothbrush

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses an improved structure of a water-jet toothbrush, comprising a hollow base in the front part of the handle to receive and store the replaceable bristle head firmly, a hollow pipe being associated with the rear part of the handle, a source of water being connectable to the rear part of the pipe, a water controller be fixedly mounted to connect the handle and the pipe and to control the flowing of water toward the jet head at the anterior portion of the toothbrush head, a water passage being formed and extended axially from the pipe to the handle and curved inwards within the toothbrush head to connect with the spiral jet head, thereby such curvature direct a strong water stream to clean the residues stored on the tooth crevices and massage the gums effectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a toothbrush, more particularlyto the structure of a water-jet toothbrush having a replaceable bristlehead and a spiral jet head that can thoroughly clean the tooth crevicesand massage the gums.

[0003] One of the most common and widely used dental instruments forpromoting oral hygiene is the toothbrush. There are different kinds oftoothbrushes for the user to choose, for example, manual, electric andhydro-powered toothbrushes. This invention relates to a hydro-poweredtoothbrush and, in particular, relates to a water-jet toothbrush.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In general, the structure of a conventional water-jet toothbrushas shown in FIG. 1, mainly comprises a bristle head 1 being fixed on thefront part of the handle, a fluid supply being associated with thehandle, the fluid supply being connectable to a source of fluid, andseveral water-jet exit orifices 2 being emerged evenly in the bristleson the toothbrush head. After the toothbrush is used, some residues maybe stored up in the bristles and therefore clog the tiny dischargeorifices. Further, since the discharge orifices are spread evenly in thebristles, the water jet exiting from the discharge orifices cannot beconcentrated to provide a strong power to clean the tooth crevices andmassage the gums effectively. Additionally, the handle part of thetoothbrush is integrally united with the head, with the water passage ofthe head continuing through the handle. It is not economic to replacethe whole toothbrush just because the bristle head is worn out.

[0006] Therefore, in summation of the above description of thestructural design of the toothbrush, particularly a water-jet toothbrushis the research and development subject for enhancement. The inventor ofthe present invention based on years of experience in the relatedindustry conducted extensive research to enhance the structure of awater-jet toothbrush herein which is hereby submitted for patentapplication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention has been accomplished under thecircumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention toprovide a replaceable bristle head and a spiral jet head that can beconveniently replaced to meet all individual requirements. It is notnecessary to replace the whole toothbrush, just because the bristle headis worn out, as with prior art toothbrushes. It is another object of thepresent invention to provide a spiral jet head to clean the toothcrevices and massage the gums more effectively and therefore reduce oraldiseases.

[0008] The present invention discloses an improved structure of awater-jet toothbrush, comprising a hollow base in the front part of thehandle to receive and store the replaceable bristle head firmly, ahollow pipe being associated with the rear part of the handle, a sourceof water being connectable to the rear part of the pipe, a watercontroller be fixedly mounted to connect the handle and the pipe and tocontrol the flowing of water toward the jet head at the anterior portionof the toothbrush head, a water passage being formed and extendedaxially from the pipe to the handle and curved inwards within thetoothbrush head to connect with the jet head, thereby such curvaturedirect a strong water stream to clean the residues stored on the toothcrevices and massage the gums effectively.

[0009] To make it easier for our examiner to understand the objective ofthe invention, its structure, innovative features, and its performance,we use a preferred embodiment together with the attached drawings forthe detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the preferredbut non-limiting embodiment. The description is made with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 shows the illustrative structure of a conventionalwater-jet toothbrush.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows the three-dimensional diagram of a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 3 shows the three-dimensional diagram of the disassembledparts of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 4 shows the sectional diagram of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0015]FIG. 5 is an enlarged diagram showing the handle with areplaceable bristle head and a spiral jet head of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the replaceable bristle head beingstored in the hollow base of the handle according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of a spiral jet head ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, a water-jet toothbrush is shown having areplaceable bristle head 30, a spiral jet head 15 at the anteriorportion of the toothbrush head A, and a handle 10 being extended toconnect with a hollow pipe 20. The other end of the pipe 20 isconnectable to a source of water B.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the front part of he handle 10 is ahollow base 101 to receive and store a replaceable bristle head 30firmly. An elastic plate 31 is disposed at one, or both, end of thereplaceable bristle head 30. A blocking bottom is projected from theelastic plate to fit the blocking hole 103 at the lateral wall of thehollow base 101, so that the bristle head 30 and the handle 10 areclipped together to prevent a rotary movement, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 again, at the anterior end of thetoothbrush head A is a groove 102 being covered with a spiral jet head15. Several discharge orifices 150 are symmetrically allocated on thespiral jet head 15. In order to prevent leakage, an anti-leakage ring151 is mounted around the spiral jet head 15. A C-shaped locating pin 16is clipped into the groove 102 to fixedly fasten the spiral jet head 15,as shown in FIG. 5. A water passage 100 is formed and extended axiallyfrom the pipe 20 to the handle 10 and curved inwards within thetoothbrush head to connect with the spiral jet head 15, as shown in FIG.6, thereby such curvature direct a strong water stream to clean thetooth crevices.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 7, under the discharge orifice 150 are severaldrop-shaped channels 151 being connectable with the water passage 100.The water stream from the water passage 100 through the drop-shapedchannels 15 imparts an outward pressure to push the spiral jet head 15,causing the spiral jet head 15 to rotate and produce different waterjets to massage the gums effectively. Further, since the spiral jet head15 is separated from the bristle head 30, the discharge orifices 150 areprohibited from being clogged by the residues.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, a water controller 40 is fixedly mounted toconnect the handle10 and the pipe 20, and to control the flowing ofwater toward the spiral jet head 15. The water controller 40 consiststwo portions, a front connector 41 and a rear connector 42. At the frontend of the front connector 41 is a water passage 410, being associatedwith the handle 10. At the outer diameter of the water passage 410 arethe threads 411, be fixedly fastened with handle 10. The rear connector42 is fitted axially into the groove 412 at the rear part of the frontconnector 41. At the rear part of the rear connector 42 is an extendedring 421 with threads 423 at the outer diameter, being fastened with thescrew hole 21 of the pipe 20. Referring to FIG. 4, the drop-shapedgroove 422 at the rear part of the rear connector 42 is associated withthe water outlet 200 in the pipe 20 to form a contact area permittingwater to pass in and out of. When the water controller 40 is adjustedwith hand from the outer diameter, the contact area of the groove 422and the water passage 410 is changed, and therefore the flowing of thewater is controlled. Two anti-leakage rings C are disposed before thefront connector 41 and the rear connector 42 respectively to preventleaking.

[0023] While the invention has been described by way of example and interms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended tocover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, andthe scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded thebroadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications andsimilar arrangements and procedures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water-jet toothbrush comprising a replaceablebristle head, a spiral jet head at the anterior portion of thetoothbrush head, a handle being extended to connect with a hollow pipe,which is connectable to a source of water at the rear end.
 2. Thewater-jet toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a hollow base at the front partof the handle is to receive and store a replaceable bristle head, anelastic plate is disposed at one, or both, end of the replaceablebristle head, a blocking bottom is projected from the elastic plate tofit the blocking hole at the lateral wall of the hollow base, so thatthe bristle head and the handle are clipped together to prevent a rotarymovement.
 3. The water-jet toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a groove atthe anterior end of the toothbrush head is covered with a jet head.Several discharge orifices are symmetrically allocated on the spiral jethead, an anti-leakage ring is mounted around the jet head and a C-shapedlocating pin is clipped into the groove to fixedly fasten the jet head;a water passage is formed and extended axially from the pipe to thehandle and curved inwards within the toothbrush head to connect with thespiral jet head, thereby such curvature direct a strong water stream toclean the teeth.
 4. The water-jet toothbrush of claim 1, wherein severaldrop-shaped channels are under the discharge orifices and areconnectable with the water passage; the water stream from the waterpassage through the drop-shaped channels imparts an outward pressure topush the spiral jet head, causing the jet head to rotate and producedifferent water jets to massage the gums effectively.
 5. The water-jettoothbrush of claim 1, wherein a water controller 40 is fixedly mountedto connect the handle and the pipe, and to control the flowing of watertoward the spiral jet head; a water passage with threads at the outerdiameter being associated with the handle, a rear connector being fittedaxially into the groove at the rear part of the front connector, anextended ring with threads at the outer diameter, being fixedly fastenedwith the screw hole of the pipe, a drop-shaped groove being associatedwith the water outlet in the pipe to form a contact area permittingwater to pass in and out of; the contact area of the groove and thewater passage is changed according to the adjustment of the watercontroller from the outer diameter, and therefore the flowing of thewater is controlled.